England denied Group L top spot in stalemate with Ghana
A goalless draw leaves both teams on four points, with England facing Panama in their final group fixture while Ghana prepare to face Croatia.
England’s bid to secure the top spot in World Cup 2026 Group L was thwarted by a gritty Ghana performance, resulting in a 0-0 draw at Foxborough Stadium. Despite controlling 79 per cent of possession and registering 19 shots, Thomas Tuchel’s side were unable to penetrate a disciplined Ghanaian defence, leaving both nations level on four points with qualification for the knockout stages all but assured.
The result denies England the group title, a position they would have claimed with a victory alongside a concurrent win for Croatia over Panama. Instead, the Three Lions must now navigate their final group fixture against Panama at MetLife Stadium on Saturday to secure their preferred finishing position. Ghana, ranked 73rd in the world, will face Croatia in Philadelphia in their concluding match.
England’s dominance was evident in the statistics but lacked clinical execution. Nico O’Reilly came closest to breaking the deadlock with a late header that struck the crossbar, while captain Harry Kane blazed over a close-range attempt in the dying moments. Kane remains level with Gary Lineker as England’s all-time top scorer at the tournament with 10 goals, though he was largely kept quiet by Ghana’s defensive organisation.
Ghana’s resilience was anchored by stand-in goalkeeper Benjamin Asare, who started in goal after Lawrence Ati-Zigi’s injury against Panama. Asare made a crucial save to deny Anthony Gordon after 60 minutes and later produced a low stop to repel Bukayo Saka. The Black Stars’ defensive solidity was bolstered by the late appointment of Carlos Queiroz as coach, a decision that appears vindicated following their opening 1-0 win over Panama.
The match was also marked by off-field developments, particularly the return of Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey. Partey rejoined the squad after missing the previous fixture due to a visa refusal by Canadian authorities; he is currently facing trial on rape charges in the UK. The Football Association confirmed there were no pre-match discussions regarding handshake protocols following social media footage suggesting England defender Djed Spence did not shake hands with Partey.
England have maintained their record of never losing to African opposition at the World Cup, a statistic that remained intact despite a performance that echoed some of their faltering displays during Euro 2024. Jude Bellingham won his 50th cap for the national side, while Marc Guehi and Djed Spence replaced John Stones and O’Reilly in defence during the second half.
